JP2018099923A - Vehicular lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular lamp which prevents light emitted from a lamp unit from entering a camera.SOLUTION: In a vehicular lamp, a main lamp unit 2, a sub-lamp unit 3, and imaging means 4 are disposed in a lamp housing 1 and light distribution of the main lamp unit 2 is controlled based on images captured by the imaging means 4. The sub-lamp unit 3 is disposed between the imaging means 4 and the main lamp unit 2. Light emitted from the main lamp unit 2 is blocked by the sub-lamp unit 3 to be prevented from entering into the imaging means 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp having an imaging device disposed in a lamp housing.

  In vehicles such as automobiles, in order to realize automatic driving control and automatic light distribution control of headlamps, a camera (imaging device) is arranged in the automobile, and the front area of the automobile is imaged with this camera, and the captured image is captured. It has been proposed to analyze and detect other vehicles such as an oncoming vehicle and a preceding vehicle existing in the front area. For example, ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) light distribution control has been proposed as a technique for controlling light distribution of a headlamp (headlight) of an automobile. This ADB light distribution control is a technology that controls a part of the high beam light distribution pattern of the headlamp so as not to dazzle other vehicles such as oncoming vehicles and preceding vehicles detected from images captured by the camera. is there.

  In this technique, in order to realize high-precision ADB light distribution control, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 proposes a technique in which a camera is disposed in a lamp housing of a headlamp. According to Patent Document 1, since the camera optical axis is close to the lamp optical axis, the direction of the other vehicle detected from the image captured by the camera, that is, the angle when the other vehicle is viewed from the host vehicle, is the headlamp. Therefore, the ADB light distribution control in the headlamp can be performed easily and with high accuracy.

  When the camera is disposed in the lamp housing as in Patent Document 1, a part of the light emitted from the lamp unit disposed in the same lamp housing is reflected directly or after being reflected by the translucent cover. The image is incident on the lens barrel of the camera and whiteout due to halation or the like is likely to occur in an image captured by the camera.

JP 2013-147138 A JP 2011-162080 A JP2013-164913A

  In order to prevent the occurrence of whiteout, Patent Documents 2 and 3 provide a light blocking structure for preventing light emitted from the lamp unit from entering the lens barrel of the camera. However, if the camera is arranged at a position adjacent to or close to the lamp unit, it is difficult to prevent light emitted from the lamp unit and reflected by the light-transmitting cover from entering the camera. Become. In particular, when the camera is adjacent to or close to the main lamp unit that is controlled by ADB light distribution, the range and direction of light emitted from the main lamp unit is changed along with the ADB light distribution control. In some cases, the direction of the light reflected by the translucent cover is changed and the light blocking structure does not function effectively.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp in which light emitted from a lamp unit is prevented from entering a camera.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a main lamp unit, a sub lamp unit, and an imaging unit are disposed in a lamp housing, and light distribution control is performed on the main lamp unit based on an image captured by the imaging unit. The sub lamp unit is disposed between the imaging means and the main lamp unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a main lamp unit, a sub lamp unit, and an imaging unit are disposed in a lamp housing, and light distribution control of the main lamp unit is performed based on an image captured by the imaging unit. In the vehicle lamp, the sub lamp unit is turned off when the light distribution control is performed on the main lamp unit, and the imaging unit is configured integrally with the sub lamp.

  In the second invention, the imaging means is arranged facing an opening window provided in a part of the sub lamp unit. For example, it is preferable that the opening window is provided in the reflector of the sub lamp unit, and that the region including the opening window is provided with a design decoration. Alternatively, the imaging unit is preferably configured integrally with the light source of the sub lamp unit.

  According to the present invention, most of the light emitted from the main lamp unit is blocked by the sub lamp unit and is prevented from entering the imaging means. Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image pickup means is integrated with the sub lamp unit, whereby the lamp size can be reduced and a small vehicle lamp can be obtained.

The front view of Embodiment 1 of the automobile to which the present invention is applied. The expanded sectional view of the right headlamp of FIG. The block block diagram of the lighting control apparatus containing a right-and-left headlamp. The schematic diagram explaining the light distribution of a main lamp unit. Sectional drawing of the right headlamp of Embodiment 2. FIG. The schematic structure of a sub lamp unit and a camera is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a BB sectional drawing. The front view which shows the example which improved the designability of the sublamp unit. Sectional drawing of different embodiment which integrated the camera with the light source.

(Embodiment 1)
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automobile headlamp, and a right headlamp R-HL is attached to the right front portion of a vehicle body BD of an automobile CAR. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a left headlamp configured symmetrically with the right headlamp R-HL is attached to the left front portion of the vehicle body BD.

  In the right headlamp R-HL, a main lamp unit 2 and a sub lamp unit 3 are disposed in a lamp housing 1, and a camera 4 as an imaging unit according to the present invention is further disposed. Here, the main lamp unit 2 is disposed outside the lamp housing 1 in the vehicle width direction, the sub lamp unit 3 is disposed inside, and the camera 4 is disposed further inside.

  FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the right headlamp R-HL. The lamp housing 1 includes a container-shaped lamp body 11 having an open front region, and a translucent cover 12 fixed so as to cover the opening of the lamp body 11. Although the details will be described later, the translucent cover 12 is formed in a plate shape curved into a required shape by a transparent colorless resin. The translucent cover 12 transmits light emitted from the main and sub lamp units 2 and 3 to irradiate the front area of the automobile. Further, the camera 4 can image the front area of the automobile through the translucent cover 12.

  An extension 13 is disposed in the lamp housing 1, and the extension 13 defines the main lamp portion, the sub lamp portion, and the camera portion in order from the left side of FIG. Yes. The extension 13 has a surface coated with aluminum or plated with aluminum and is configured as a pseudo reflector.

  The main lamp unit 2 uses a plurality of white LEDs (light emitting diodes) 21 as a light source, the white light emitted by the white LEDs 21 is reflected by a reflector 22, and the reflected light is projected in front of the automobile by a projection lens 23. It is configured as a projector-type lamp unit that performs illumination. As will be described later, by selecting a plurality of white LEDs 21 to emit light, it is possible to switch and control the light distribution of the main lamp unit between a high beam distribution and a low beam distribution. Further, similarly, it is possible to perform control by ADB light distribution in which a partial region of the high beam light distribution pattern is not selectively illuminated.

  Here, the sub lamp unit 3 is configured as a clearance lamp. The clearance lamp 3 uses a white LED 31 as a light source, the white light emitted from the white LED 31 is reflected by a reflector 32, and an inner lens 33 arranged on the front side of the reflector 32 has a required light distribution pattern in front of the automobile. It is configured as a reflector type lamp unit for illumination.

  The camera 4 is configured as a camera including a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. The camera 4 is disposed on the rear surface side of the extension 13 so that it cannot be observed from the outside when viewed through the translucent cover 12 from the front of the headlamp R-HL. The lens barrel 41 of the camera 4 is disposed at a position facing an opening window 131 provided in the extension 13, and the front area of the automobile can be imaged through the opening window 131.

  Further, a lamp ECU (lamp electronic control unit) 5 is disposed in the lamp housing 1 at a position where it is not exposed to the outside by the extension 13. The lamp ECU 5 is electrically connected to the main lamp unit 2, the sub lamp unit 3, and the camera 4. In particular, the lighting state of the main lamp unit 2 and the sub lamp unit 3 is determined based on the image captured by the camera 4. ADB light distribution is controlled.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the lamp units 2 and 3, the camera 4 and the lamp ECU 5. The lamp ECU 5 includes a main lamp control unit 51, a sub lamp control unit 52, and a camera control unit 53. In addition, the lamp ECU 5 is connected to a vehicle ECU 6 that is provided in the automobile CAR and performs overall control related to the running of the automobile CAR. In addition, a monitor 7 for notifying passengers of the car CAR of various information is disposed in the vehicle interior, and this monitor 7 is connected to the vehicle ECU 6. The monitor 7 may be composed of a display panel of a navigation device.

  The lamp ECU 5 receives a control signal from the vehicle ECU 6 and controls the main lamp unit 2, the sub lamp unit 3, and the camera 4. For example, the main lamp control unit 51 performs on / off control of the main lamp unit 2, high beam / low beam light distribution control, and ADB light distribution control. The sub lamp control unit 52 controls turning on / off of the sub lamp unit 3. Furthermore, the camera control unit 53 includes an other vehicle detection unit 531 that analyzes an image captured by the camera 4 and detects other vehicles existing ahead of the automobile, that is, an oncoming vehicle and a preceding vehicle, and the camera. 4, for example, control of imaging timing, capturing operation of captured images, and the like.

  Here, the main lamp control unit 51 is based on the light distribution setting unit 511 for setting an appropriate light distribution corresponding to the other vehicle detected by the other vehicle detection unit 531 and the set light distribution. A lighting control unit 512 that controls turning on / off of the plurality of white LEDs 21 of the main lamp unit 2 is provided.

  With this configuration, when the other vehicle detection unit 531 detects an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle existing in the front area of the host vehicle from the image captured by the camera, the main lamp control unit 51 causes the main light distribution setting unit 511 to The light distribution of the lamp unit 2 is set to one of high beam light distribution, low beam light distribution, and ADB light distribution. The lighting control unit 512 controls the lighting of the plurality of white LEDs 21 either collectively or selectively in order to realize the set light distribution. Thereby, the light distribution control which illuminates the front area of the own vehicle as brightly as possible without dazzling the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle is realized.

  Although detailed description is omitted, the configuration of the left headlamp L-HL of the automobile shown in FIG. 3 is symmetrical to the right headlamp R-HL, and is provided in the left headlamp L-HL. A lamp ECU (not shown) is also connected to the vehicle ECU 6. Thereby, also in the left headlamp L-HL, control of high beam light distribution, low beam light distribution, and ADB light distribution in the main lamp unit is executed independently.

  According to the above configuration, when a lamp switch (not shown) is turned on, the main lamp control unit 51 and the sub lamp control unit 52 of the lamp ECU 5 control the lighting of the main lamp unit 2 and the sub lamp unit 3, respectively. The main lamp control unit 51 executes high beam light distribution control, low beam light distribution control, and ADB light distribution control based on a signal from the vehicle ECU 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of white LEDs 21 constituting the light source of the main lamp unit 2 are arranged in two rows of four first row LEDs 21a and six second row LEDs 21b. The illumination area where the light of each white LED 21 (21a, 21b) is projected by the projection lens 23 corresponds to each grid area in the upper light distribution pattern of FIG. In the lighting control of the main lamp unit 2 by the main lamp control unit 51, when the first column LED 21a emits light in the lighting control unit 512 of the lamp ECU 5, the low beam distribution shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. Further, when the first and second LED rows 21a and 21b emit light, a high beam light distribution including the illumination area checked and drawn in FIG. 4 is obtained.

  In the ADB light distribution control, the other vehicle is detected by the other vehicle detection unit 531 based on the image captured by the camera 4. When the other vehicle is detected, the lighting control unit 512 selectively emits other white LEDs other than the white LED corresponding to the other vehicle among the all white LEDs 21 (21a, 21b). In the example of FIG. 4, for the oncoming vehicle CAR1, the white LED corresponding to the region PO is turned off and the other white LEDs are emitted. For the preceding vehicle CAR2, the white LED corresponding to the area PF is turned off and the other white LEDs are emitted. Thereby, the ADB light distribution which illuminates the front area of the own vehicle as brightly as possible without dazzling these other vehicles CAR1 and CAR2 is obtained.

  As described above, the camera 4 is disposed on the rear surface side of the extension 13, and the lens barrel 41 is positioned facing the opening window 131 provided in the extension 13, so that the main and sub lamp units 2, 3 The emitted light hardly enters the lens barrel 41 of the camera 4 directly. Further, the sub lamp unit 3 is disposed between the camera 4 and the main lamp unit 2, the distance between the main lamp unit 2 and the camera 4 is long, and the camera 4 is behind the sub lamp unit 3. The light emitted from the main lamp unit 2 is shielded by the sub lamp unit 3 and is not incident on the camera 4.

  Therefore, when the main lamp unit 2 is under high beam light distribution control and ADB light distribution control, at least light emitted from the main lamp unit 2 is prevented from entering the camera 4 even if the sub lamp unit 3 is controlled to be turned on. As a result, whiteout can be prevented from occurring even when the light emitted from the sub lamp unit 3 is incident on the camera 4.

  Here, the extension 13 is disposed in the lamp housing 1 and the camera 4 is disposed on the rear surface side of the extension 13. However, the same applies to a headlamp not provided with the extension. That is, by disposing the sub lamp unit 3 between the main lamp unit 2 and the camera 4, the camera 4 is disposed at a position behind the sub lamp unit 3 when viewed from the main lamp unit 2. Thus, the light emitted from the main lamp unit 2 can be prevented from entering the camera 4.

  On the other hand, part of the light emitted from the main and sub lamp units 2 and 3 is reflected by the translucent cover 12, and the reflected light may enter the lens barrel 41 of the camera 4. In this case, since the light emitted from the sub lamp unit 3 is a low light quantity, even if a part of the emitted light is reflected by the translucent cover 12 and is incident on the camera 4, whiteout hardly occurs. Further, since the main lamp unit 2 and the camera 4 are disposed at positions apart from each other with the sub lamp unit 4 interposed therebetween, the light emitted from the main lamp unit 2 is reflected by the translucent cover 12 and enters the camera 4. The emitted light has a low light quantity, and whiteout is rarely generated.

  However, when the light emitted from the main lamp unit 2 and the sub lamp unit 3 reflected by the translucent cover 12 is incident on the camera 4, white light is added to the image captured by the camera 4 by adding the light amounts of both lights. Out may occur.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the lamp ECU 5 stops the control in the sub lamp control unit 52 when the main lamp unit 2 is performing the high beam light distribution control and the ADB light distribution control in the main lamp control unit 51. The lamp unit 3 is forcibly turned off. In other words, the sub lamp unit 3 is controlled to be lit only when the main lamp unit 2 is in the low beam distribution. By turning off the sub lamp unit 3, even if a part of the light emitted from the main lamp unit 2 is reflected by the translucent cover 12 and enters the camera 4, the occurrence of whiteout can be prevented as described above. it can. In addition, when the main lamp unit 2 is in the low beam distribution, the amount of emitted light is low, so that the occurrence of whiteout is prevented even if both reflected lights of the main lamp unit 2 and the sub lamp unit 3 enter the camera 4.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the right headlamp according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. The second embodiment is based on the premise that the sub lamp unit 3 is controlled to be turned off when performing high beam light distribution control and ADB light distribution control in the main lamp unit 2 as described above.

  In the second embodiment, the camera 4 disposed in the lamp housing 1 is configured integrally with the sub lamp unit 3 or disposed in the vicinity of the sub lamp unit 3. Here, the camera 4 is disposed on the rear surface side of the reflector 32 of the sub lamp unit 3, and the lens barrel 41 of the camera 4 is disposed in a state of being inserted through an opening window 322 provided in a part of the reflector 32. Has been.

  6A and 6B are a front view and a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B showing a schematic configuration of the sub lamp unit 3 and the camera 4, respectively. As described above, the sub lamp unit 3 includes the light source 31 and the reflector 32. An attachment window 321 is opened in the reflector 32, and a light source substrate 311 is attached thereto. A plurality of, here four, white LEDs 31 a are mounted on the light source substrate 311.

  The camera 4 is provided at a part of the reflector 32 so as not to obstruct the light distribution of the sub lamp unit 3, that is, the light distribution as a clearance lamp, at a position obliquely lower right of the light source 31 when viewed from the front of the sub lamp unit 3. The opening window 322 is opened. The camera 4 is supported by a part of the lamp body 11 or a part of the reflector 32 on the rear surface side of the reflector 32, and the lens barrel 41 opens the opening window 322 from the rear surface side of the reflector 32 toward the front surface side. It is arranged in the inserted state.

  According to this configuration, the camera 4 takes an image through the opening window 322 of the reflector 32 of the sub lamp unit 32. Since the camera 4 is disposed at an obliquely lower position on the rear surface side of the sub lamp unit 3, the light distribution of the main lamp unit 2 is not affected. Further, there is almost no influence on the light distribution to the sub lamp unit 3.

  On the other hand, since the sub lamp unit 3 is turned off at the time of imaging with the camera 4, there is no whiteout problem caused by the light emitted from the sub lamp unit 3. Further, since the camera 4 is disposed at a position that is shaded by the sub lamp unit 3 when viewed from the main lamp unit 2, the emitted light when the main lamp unit 2 is turned on is reflected by the reflector 32 of the sub lamp unit 3. Since the light is shielded, the emitted light does not enter the camera 4. Even if it is incident, there is little, and the occurrence of whiteout in the camera 4 can be prevented.

  In the second embodiment, the camera 4 is almost integrated with the sub lamp unit 3, so that an independent space for housing the camera 4 is provided in the lamp housing 1 as compared with FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the size of the headlamp R-HL in the lateral direction, that is, the vehicle width direction is reduced, and the volume thereof is also reduced, so that a small headlamp can be realized.

  In addition, since the sub-bramp unit 3 is turned off when the image is captured by the camera 4, the influence of heat generated by the sub-lamp unit 3 on the camera 4 and the captured image can be reduced. In particular, when the ADB light distribution control in the main lamp unit 2 is performed based on the image captured by the camera 4, the influence on the ADB light distribution control by the heat can be avoided.

  Note that the provision of the opening window 322 in the reflector 32 of the sub lamp unit 3 may cause a decrease in appearance in appearance through the translucent cover 12, but for example, as shown in FIG. The appearance deterioration can be prevented by printing a star-shaped design pattern D1 in a region surrounding the opening window 322 on the front surface of the reflector 32 or by sticking a seal. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7B, a petal-like design pattern D2 may be formed in a plurality of regions including the opening window 322. Thereby, the design of the sub lamp unit 3 can be improved by providing the opening window 322.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the camera 4 may be integrated with the light source 31 of the sub lamp unit 3 without opening an opening window in the reflector 32. In FIG. 8A, the camera 4 is attached to the attachment window 321 of the reflector 32 described above. Further, a light source substrate 311 on which white LEDs 31 a constituting the light source 31 are mounted is integrally attached to the front surface of the camera 4. The center of the light source substrate 311 is opened. The lens barrel 41 of the camera 4 is inserted into the opening, and a plurality of white LEDs 31 a are disposed around the lens barrel 41. Here, although not shown, the light source substrate 311 may be attached to a part of the lens barrel 41 of the camera 4.

  As a result, the camera 4 is disposed in the center of the reflector 32 of the sub lamp unit 3, and a plurality of white LEDs 31 a are disposed around the lens barrel 41. When each white LED 31a emits light, the sub lamp unit 3 is turned on, and when the sub lamp unit 3 is turned off, an image is taken by the camera 4, thereby preventing white out.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8B, when a small camera module is adopted as the camera, a light source in which a support substrate 312 is attached to the attachment window 321 of the sub lamp unit 3 and a white LED 31a is mounted on the support substrate 312. The substrate 311 may be supported and the camera module 4 may be mounted on the light source substrate 311. Also in this configuration, when the white LED 31a emits light, the sub lamp unit 3 is turned on, and when the sub lamp unit 3 is turned off, imaging with the camera 4 is performed, thereby preventing whiteout from occurring. .

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the main lamp unit, the sub lamp unit, and the camera are arranged in the horizontal direction has been shown. However, even if the lamp unit and a part or all of the camera are arranged in the vertical direction, Good.

  In the above embodiments, the main lamp unit is configured to be able to control high beam light distribution, low beam light distribution, and ADB light distribution. However, the high beam lamp unit and the low beam lamp unit are configured as independent lamp units, and these high beam light units are configured. You may comprise so that control of ADB light distribution may be performed in any one of a lamp unit and a low beam lamp unit.

  The present invention is not limited to a headlamp, and can be applied to any illumination lamp having a configuration that controls the lighting state, particularly the light distribution during illumination, based on an image captured by a camera. Here, the main lamp unit may be a lamp unit having a configuration in which light distribution is controlled based on an image picked up by the image pickup means. The sub lamp unit is not limited to the clearance lamp, and may be another lamp. That is, in the case of the first embodiment, an auxiliary lamp or a marker lamp that emits less light than a main lamp unit such as a fog lamp or a cornering lamp may be used as the sub lamp unit. In the case of the second embodiment, the sub lamp unit may be an auxiliary lamp or a marker lamp that can be turned off during light distribution control in the main lamp unit.

1 Lamp housing 2 Main lamp unit 3 Sub lamp unit 4 Camera (imaging means)
5 Lamp ECU
6 Vehicle ECU
7 Monitor 31 Light source 31a White LED
32 Reflector 41 Lens barrel 51 Main lamp control unit 52 Sub lamp control unit 53 Camera control unit 311 Light source substrate 312 Support substrate 321 Mounting window 322 Open window 511 Light distribution setting unit 512 Lighting control unit 531 Other vehicle detection units L-HL, R -HL headlamp (lighting lamp)

Claims (6)

  A vehicular lamp having a configuration in which a main lamp unit, a sub lamp unit, and an imaging unit are disposed in a lamp housing, and the main lamp unit is configured to perform light distribution control based on an image captured by the imaging unit. The vehicle lamp is characterized in that the sub lamp unit is disposed between the main lamp unit and the main lamp unit.   A vehicle lamp having a configuration in which a main lamp unit, a sub lamp unit, and an imaging unit are disposed in a lamp housing, and the main lamp unit is controlled to distribute light based on an image captured by the imaging unit. Is turned off when the main lamp unit is subjected to light distribution control, and the imaging means is configured integrally with the sub lamp.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the imaging unit is disposed facing an opening window provided in a part of the sub lamp unit.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein the opening window is provided in a reflector of the sub lamp unit, and a design decoration is applied to a region including the opening window.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the imaging unit is configured integrally with a light source of the sub lamp unit. 6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the main lamp unit is capable of at least ADB light distribution control, and the sub lamp unit is an auxiliary lamp or a marker lamp including a clearance lamp.

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